Name: Craig A Young
Date of Birth- 4/4/90
Birthplace- Altnigalvin Hospital, Londonderry
Club: Bready
Bowls: Left arm medium fast
Young had the best bowling performance of any match at the Under 19 Euro Championships in July when he took 5-22 against Guernsey
Craig Young can look back at his performances in 2009 in an Ireland shirt with some satisfaction.
At the Under 19 European Championships in July, Young was the 2nd highest wicket-taker in the tournament (behind Ireland’s Shane Getkate) taking 9 wickets at an average of 12.56 with an economy rate of 3.70. Young had the best bowling performance of any innings in the tournament taking 5-22 against Guernsey.
The Under 19 World Cup Qualifier in Canada in September was also a tournament when the Bready youngster shone. Playing in five matches Young took 10 wickets at an average of 11.50 with an economy rate of 3.59.
Though Young is a more than useful lower order bat but he didn’t get a bat in Canada at all and only had two innings the Europeans.(Ireland won both tournaments).
Not much time to reflect on past glories though. Young will travel with the Ireland squad to play in the Under 19 World Cup itself in January in New Zealand. Here he talks to Cover Point...
CP: How would you sum up 2009?
CY: 2009 was probably my best season so far for club and country! In all, I took a total of 49 wickets in all competitions so I had a very successful year with the ball.
CP: And the WCQ in September?
CY: The WCQ for me was the best cricket tour I’ve been on! Getting the chance to play on foreign soil on some pretty good wickets was a really enjoyable experience! I took 10 wickets in the tournament which I was pleased with.
CP: Highlight of cricket career to date?
CY: hard to pick just one; maybe taking my 1st five wicket haul for Ireland this season....Or taking my 1st senior 5 wicket haul for Bready in the Senior cup final!...Or maybe playing for Sussex this season! They have invited me to a bowling camp in Dubai straight after the World Cup.
I guess all those are on a par with each other!
CP: Worst moment of cricket career so far?
CY: Definitely when I injured myself when I was 15 which meant I couldn’t bowl for a season, missing an Ulster Schools tour and Irish under 15s tour.
CP: Goals for 2010?
CY: Would be to keep doing well for Beady and hopefully get a match for Ireland A, or maybe try and secure something with Sussex.
CP: Long term cricket goals?
CY: Would definitely be to work hard and represent Ireland some day at the highest level hopefully in a World Cup or even a test match!!...and maybe try and make a living out of it! It would be so good if I could manage to do that.
CP: Biggest influence in my career?
CY: Impossible to name just one....
Boyd Rankin. Just looking at what he has achieved and what he is still achieving is unbelieveable! Just to follow in his footsteps would be amazing!
But, overall, it would probably be Wiaan Smit who was our professional at Bready when I started to play cricket! Watching the way he went about his cricket was brilliant to watch! Aside from being a top class pro he was a top guy and top coach! Spent countless hours working with my bowling AND batting technique!
CP: Favourite cricketer?
CY: James Anderson! He’s just a class bowler! I watched him in his 1st stint in English colours when he was a young quick bowler, and I was just starting to play cricket at that time and I guess it was him who I wanted to be like!
CP: What else are you passionate about?
CY: Outside of my cricket I would be passionate about Manchester United! Lifelong fan, try and see every game!
Although I’m definitely not as good at the football as I am at cricket, football was my 1st choice way ahead of cricket when I was younger so I’m still pretty passionate about it!
Craig Young in conversation with Liam Rooney
Copyright: Cover Point
